In2theRiver

Good morning from Westminster, MD!

What are your plans for the summer? Do they include serving?

In my last post, How to Step into Serving This Summer, I talked about how serving can actually be a way to recharge, something most people hope to do over the summer. It’s not to say that other ways of recharging such as a vacation are bad but rather that serving others can be a part of your strategy to fill your tank this summer. By serving, you are taking your eyes off of your own challenges, lifting your head, and truly seeing others and the challenges they face. In many ways, it’s a beautiful and life-producing cycle of hope: by brining hope to others, you actually find more hope for yourself.

In my last post, I talked about how the greatest roadblock to serving others is often the process of getting started. The good news is I have developed a guide called “5 Foundational Steps to Make a True Difference in Someone’s Life” (click the link at the bottom of the post to access the free guide!) for that very purpose: to help you get started. The purpose of the guide is walk you through the same process I followed as I decided to become more engaged in serving others. In the last post, I covered the first two steps, “Understand Your Story”, and “Be Curious”.

In this post, I will walk through the other three steps. So, whether it is summer where you are or when you are reading this, I hope this helps you step into serving!

What Do You Bring to the Table?

After digging into your own story and getting curious about yourself and the world around you, it is time to start thinking about how you could engage. Many people aren’t sure if they have much to offer as we tend to put what it looks like to serve others in a box. I found myself at this place in the past. I wasn’t sure if I really had the right gifts to make a difference, especially when I first started visiting Nicaragua.

However, I found that the exact opposite is true. Often, the best way to make a difference is by using what you already have to help others. The truth is you are more equipped to play a role in creating change than you realize. What are your gifts? What do you do professionally and what have you studied? What are your unique life experiences? What resources do you have that could be useful for someone else?

After you do an inventory, think about how you could use your gifts, experiences, interests, and resources to help give someone hope through a real opportunity or a different view of themselves. You could also think of how others have done this for you as you consider how to use what you bring to the table.

I realized that my experience in leadership and business could be used to bring hope to others in Nicaragua. You might just have exactly what someone else needs to take a step forward in their life.

Get Connected!

Now that you have considered what you have to offer, it is time to start moving toward action. One mistake we often make is we think we have to figure it out on our own. This is rarely the best path forward. More than likely there is a person or organization looking for people like you. Instead of trying to “go it alone”, find someone who can help you get engaged. This will allow you to benefit from their experience and relationships while they get to take advantage of all that you bring to the table. It’s a win-win!

To help you find a connection point, ask yourself if there is an organization that matches your gifts, skills, experiences, and interests. Do you know anyone who might be help you get connected? Are you a part of a community such as a club or a church that are connected to the people who would benefit from what you have to offer?

I took this approach as I explored serving in Nicaragua and continue to take this approach in my local community. Everyone wins when we choose to work together.

Take a Step!

Now it’s time to start moving! The truth is we often just need to take the first step, and the rest takes care of itself. This process can be messy and uncomfortable, but it is worth it.

There are many first steps you could take, but here are a few to help you get started. You could reach out to the organization or person you thought of in the “Get Connected” step to learn how to take a next step. You could look for a local volunteer opportunity to “get started”. You could send support to an organization that interests you. The key is to actually take a step. I find it is wise to keep it simple at the beginning and build on it from there.

When I began exploring what it would look like to get more engaged in Nicaragua, I spent time with different people who were serving there. As I did this, it became clearer as to how I could make a difference for the long-term. With that said, don’t let figuring out the best long-term plan get in the way of taking a step. It is in taking small steps you will discover how you are uniquely equipped to make a difference in the lives of others.

Whether you follow this process or not, I would encourage you to take a step into serving. It will help you to recharge while making the world a little more hope-filled in the process.

Take a step and remember, when you bring hope to others, you find more hope for yourself!

James Belt

Click here for more resources to help you bring hope to others, including more information about the free guide and my book, Hope Realized!